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In this episode of Canada Now, host Ashley Smith sits down with Arman Mottaghi, founder and CEO of Properate, to explore what it really takes to build companies that last — in climate tech and beyond.

Arman shares how Properate grew into one of Canada’s leading home energy assessment platforms by focusing on long-term value, real revenue, and system-level thinking — rather than chasing Silicon Valley hype cycles.

The conversation spans:
* Why homes are one of the most underestimated climate levers
* Why indoor air quality may be a trillion-dollar industry hiding in plain sight
* How Canadian founders may need a different innovation and funding model
* Why bootstrapping, cash flow, and trust matter more than pitch decks
* What Canada risks losing by importing U.S. startup playbooks wholesale

This episode is a thoughtful look at climate innovation — and a compelling case for a distinctly Canadian approach to entrepreneurship.

(all links available in show notes - coming soon, see Canada Now at https://canadanow.beehiiv.com to subscribe)

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Send a text to Canada Now! 💬

AI is everywhere — but leadership hasn’t always caught up.

In this episode of Canada Now, host Ashley Smith is joined by Karen Olsson, tech entrepreneur, fractional CEO, and principal at Atomic47, for a grounded conversation about what the AI moment actually demands of leaders — beyond hype, tools, and experimentation.

Karen brings a rare, on-the-ground perspective from working with organizations across highly regulated and operationally complex sectors, including healthcare, energy, and government. Together, they unpack why AI isn’t a speculative bubble, but an operational shift already reshaping how work gets done — and why governance, adoption, and leadership matter just as much as the technology itself.

This conversation explores:

• Why AI should be viewed as infrastructure, not novelty
• How organizations can “lose the tedium” without losing people
• What responsible AI governance looks like in practice — not theory
• Why leadership alignment matters more than pilots and point solutions
• Canada’s opportunity to lead through adoption, sovereignty, and trust
• How founders, workers, and executives can prepare for what’s next

Rather than focusing on flashy use cases, this episode centers on the unsexy — but essential — questions that determine whether AI actually creates value: accountability, data integrity, decision-making, and human judgment.

If you’re a founder, executive, board member, policymaker, or operator trying to make sense of AI in a real-world context, this episode is for you.

🔗 Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Atomic47 Labs
• Karen Olsson’s Substack
• Innovation Governance Program (Council of Canadian Innovators)
• Canadian AI Sovereignty & Innovation Cluster

(all links available in show notes - coming soon, see Canada Now to subscribe)

Love the show? Help it grow!
→ Subscribe, Review, and Share 🍁

Follow Canada Now for bold ideas and real conversations shaping what’s next in Canada. 🇨🇦
→ All Links (including socials)
→ YouTube
→ Canada Now Newsletter (subscriber perks coming soon!)

Meet the host, Ashley Smith! 🙋‍♀️
→ Ashley's links (social, website, + more)

Send a text to Canada Now! 💬

In a world flooded with AI-generated content, endless platforms, and “perfect” branding, what actually builds trust?

In this episode of Canada Now, Ashley is joined by Brady Dahmer — brand strategist, author of Blind Spots, and founder of Tropoly — for a wide-ranging conversation about brand, trust, community, and why human connection matters more than ever.

Brady has spent over 25 years working at the intersection of design, storytelling, and strategy, supporting everyone from early-stage startups to global brands. He’s also played a major role in shaping Vancouver’s creative and innovation culture, as the former Marketing Director of TEDx Vancouver and co-founder of the Projecting Change Film Festival.

Together, we explore:

• Why “perfect” branding is starting to backfire
• How trust is really built in the age of AI
• The blind spots that quietly cost founders time and money
• The rise of fractional leadership and the future of agency work
• Why in-person events and real community still matter
• What Canada — and Canadian businesses — should be paying attention to next

This conversation moves beyond logos and taglines to ask a bigger question:
How do brands, leaders, and communities stay focused — and human — in a distracted world?

📚 Blind Spots by Brady Dahmer linked in the show notes

Check the show notes for a full breakdown and guest info:
canadanow.beehiiv.com 👈 (coming asap)

Love the show? Help it grow!
→ Subscribe, Review, and Share 🍁

Follow Canada Now for bold ideas and real conversations shaping what’s next in Canada. 🇨🇦
→ All Links (including socials)
→ YouTube
→ Canada Now Newsletter (subscriber perks coming soon!)

Meet the host, Ashley Smith! 🙋‍♀️
→ Ashley's links (social, website, + more)